Tension adjustment for pull-switches.



*O.D.PLATT TENSION ADJUSTMENT FOR FULL SWITCHES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 21, 1910. I

1 ,008,729, h aunte Nov .14,1911

' YIWENTOR Clarence D. Plait.

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Ta allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CLARENCE D. PLA'r'r, a citizen of the, United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairtield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Adjustments tor Pull-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use the same.

The invention relates, to pull switches and more j'iarticularly, to the adjustment, for tensioning the operating parts, in order that accuracy may be maintained in the operation of the device.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient adjustment for ten sioning the manually movable part of the switch of a pull socket, to insure a proper return of the operating parts.

A further object is to provide an adjustdevice, which will insure the proper positioning of the parts adaptable to varying weights upon the pull chain or cord.

A still further object is to provide a simple device for adjusting tensions upon the actuating mechanism and which is readily removable and is in the-form of a constant clutch.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a socket embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower insulating base-piece and appurtenant parts. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ratchet for effecting the make and break of the contacts. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the movable pawl for actuating the ratchet illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view in per-- spective of the several parts of the adjustlug device am'rurtenant to the ratchet.

'The specific form of ratchet mechanism and contact mechanism does not form the invention claimed herein and the invention, as hereinattcr defined, may well be applied to any desired type ofswitch mechanism. It embodies a movable member in the form of an actuator, an adjustable member cooper-- the tension ot the actuating member, to provide for dilicrrnccs in weight of the chain and its embellished pendant or other connections by illlCll the switch 1s operated.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratelltea Noe-i4, 1:911.

- Application filed December 21, 1910. semi 'nmteayava It is the particular object of the present invention to provide an adjustment by which the tension of" the actuator may be varied and whereby the actuator will always be returned to a definite position irrespective of the weight of the pull cord or chain and its appurtenances. At the same time, it is desirable to provide a device which will permit ready removal and separation of the main parts of the mechanism without interfering with the adjustment of the actuating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1, i

break of the contacts are arranged. The

lower insulating member 1, is provided with an opening 3, of substantially cylindrical form having extended openings 1, within which fits a spindle 5, provided with ears 6, so that-the spindle is firmly'seated in the insulator .1. This spindle 5, forms the pivotal support for a ratchet member 7, which, in conjunction with a contact member 8, located on the base 1, and a contact member 9, secured to a conducting post 10, forms the necessary electrical make and break between circuit wires connected with the conducting post 10, and a conducting post 11. The conducting post 10, through the conducting portions of the ratchet 7, is electrically connected and disconnected with the threaded shell contact member 12. The conducting post 11, is electrically connected with a central contact 13, extending within the shell 12.

Surmounting the ratchet 7 there is a pawlbearing. member 1%, having a pawl 15, adapted to engage the teeth of the'ratchet 7. This pawl has properly secured to it a pull cord or chain 16, and is supported upon and has as a bearing the spindle 5. The pawl-bearing member 1 1, is moved in one direction by the pull of the cord or chain 16, and is returned to normal position after the pull by the spring 17 This spring has its lower end 18, connected with the pawl-bearing member 14, by a clip 19. The upper end 20, of the'spring 17 engages an opening 21, of an adjusting device 22. The pawl-bearing member 1 1, has a central .hub 23, projecting therefrom,being preferably formed by cupping up the metal of the pawl-bearing member. This hub 23, forms a spring barrel about which the spring 17, is passed and pawl-bearing mem or 14,, while the op osite end is engaged with the'adjusting device 22. The spindle 5, is so formed with relation to the adjusting device 22, that'the latter may be forced-downover it and -due to a springchuck formed by splitting the lower end 24, of the adjusting device, a. secure frictional hold may be maintained between the adjusting device 22, and the spindle 5. The upper end of the adjusting device 22, is provided with a screw-slot 25, .which pro ects through an opening 26, in the upperf1nsulating member of the socket and may be con-.

venliently engaged by a screw-driver or other too Underlying the ratchet member- 7, is a washer 27, which maintains the ratchet in a proper plane and overlying said ratchet is an insulating washer 28, which insures the various parts of the mechanism appurtenant thereto against short-circuit.

The two insulating sections'l, and 2, are secured together through suitable postsincluding the conducting columns 10, 11, and are, therefore, held in fixed position irrespective of the adjusting device 22.

It is to be observed thatthe spindle 5, is

removably seated in the lower-most insulating member 1, and is non-rotatable with reference thereto. The adjusting device 22, is seated within the upper-most insulating member 2, and has its end projecting there through, whereby it may be rotarily adjusted with reference tothe spindle 5. The actuator, which consists of the pawl-carrying member 14, its pawl 15, and chain or cord connection 16, is loosely mounted upon the spindle 5, with theadjusting device 22.

The control of the mechanism is effected in the following manner: The spring 17 encircling the spring barrel 23, being in connection with the pawl-carrying member 14, and the adjusting device 22, may be tensioned to agreater or lesser extent by merely turning the adjusting device 22, with reference to the spindle 5. The gripping-chuck 24, has sufficient holding power with reference to the spindle'5, to maintain said adjustin'g device in any position to which it may be set. It holds upon the spindle 5, by a frictional gripping action and therefore the total length of the spindle 5, and the ad justing device is never varied, as would be the case if ascrew-thread were used between the spindle and the adjusting device. F urthermore, the' expense and disadvantages of a screw-spindle and nut are avoided and the adjusting device may be incased below the upper insulating member ,2, without -liability of being raised to such an extent as to interfere with the inclosing casing and connections, which are ordinarily used in such devices.

With this arrangement, the spindle 5, ratchet and pawl, together with the adjust- -ing device, may be quickly and readily assembled on the insulating member 1, and

may be readily removed to re-new any of' the parts. It will be observed that the ratchet member 7, is, in fact, a ratchet and contact member for effecting the make and break of the circuit and the adjusting de: vice is in direct connection, through the pawl-arm 14, with said ratchet. Thus, there is a direct adjustment through the adjusting device, in connection with the movable make and break contact member or ratchet 7, whereby the positioning of the actuating pawl 15, may always be definitely adjusted.

my application No.'598,423, filed December What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

. 1. A tension adjustment for pull switches embodying a spindle, a frictional adjusting device frictionally clamped to said spindle,

a switch actuator operatively arranged upon the spindle, and a tension device intermediate the switch actuator and adjusting device.

2.-A tension adjustment for pull switches embodying a removable spindle, a frictional adjusting device frictiona ly clamped to said spindle, a switch actuator operatively arranged upon the spindle, and a tension de vice intermediate-the switch actuator and adjusting device.

3; A tension, adjustment for pull switches embodying a spindle, a make and break device mounted thereon, an actuator therefor provided with an extended bearing, an ad justing device projecting within said bearing and engaging the spindle and a tension device between the adjusting device and the actuator.

4. A tension adjustment for pull switches embodying a spindle, a switch actuator op-v eratively arranged upon the spindle-and provided with a hub forming. a spring barrel, an adjusting member having frictional contact with the spindle and with a head exand a tension device intermediate said-head and the snitch actuator.

A tension adjustment for pull' switches embodying a. spindle provided with transverse ears in combination w' ii. an insulating member having a socket to receive the spindle and cars, a switch actuator operativcly arranged upon. the spindle, an adjusting device haying a clutch mounted upcnthe spindlej'ifnda tension device intermediate the switch actuator and adjusting device.

6. In combination with a pair of insulating members bearing an intermediate switch mechanism, a spindle removably secured in one of said members and forming a bearing for the movable switch parts, a switch actuator mounted thereon, an adjusting device irieti-onaliy clamped upon the spindle and underlying one of theinsuiating members, and 1; t 'm device intern'iediate the ad .un and actuator.

"r of insulatn lint c switch 31 secured in rs and for-mi bearing tension device intermediate the adjusting 3 device and actuator, and a recess through theinsulating member whereby the adjusting device may be moved.

8. A tension adjustment for pullswitches embodying a spindle, asplit nut frictionally 35 clamping the upper end of said spindle, a

switch actuator operatively arranged upon the spindle, and a tension device intermedi ate the switch actuator and split-nut.

9. A tension adjustment for pull switches 4 embodying a spindle, a tool-en aging head 'operatively arranged upon sai spindle, a friction clutch intermediate said head and, spindle, a switch actuator operatively arranged upon the spindle, and vice intermediate the switch adjusting device.

. CLARENCE D. PLATT.

actuator and \Vit-nesses m KATE BRENNER, WM. B. HILL.

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